Fuel burner



FUEL BURNER Filed Sept. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. E50 #555 BY? a 0 ATTORNEY F. HESS FUEL BURNER March 19, 1935.

Filed Sept. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

U N m T T. A

Patented Mar. 19, 1935 PATENT OFFICE FUEL BURNER Fred Hess, Philadelphia, Pa... assignor to The Selas Company, Philadelphia, Pa.., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 21, 1931, Serial No. 564,105

22 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in the construction and operation of fuel burners, and more particularly, to fuel burners of the type to which a combustible gaseous fuel mixture is supplied under a relatively high pressure and. burned at the outlet end thereof, combustion being maintained at that point through the cooperation of an adjacent steady pilot flame.

The general object of my present invention is the provision of an improved construction of a burner of the character described which is characterized by its increased operating efliciency, extremely low cost of manufacture, relatively few parts, and ease of assembly and disassembly. A further and more specific object is the provision of a burner of the character described having its portions normally exposed in operation to high temperatures and/or corrosive actions formed of materials highly resistant to high temperatures and/or corrosion. Another specific object is the provision of a fuel burner in which the direction of flame discharge can be varied without changing the position of the burner. Another specific object is to provide a construction and arrangement of the fuel supply ductsfor the pilot flame which does not require the relatively expensive drilling operations heretofore used and insures a uniformity of burner construction. Another specific object is the provision in a burner of the character described of means for preventing clogging of the fuel supply passages for the pilot flame by material dropping onto the burner. Another specific object is the provision of a fuel burner construction permitting a series of such burners to be closely spaced together without lessening the ease in which the burners can be assembled and disassembled.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better'understanding of the invention, however, and the advantages possessed by it reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

Of the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is an enlarged plan view of a fuel'burner constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the clamping member removed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a modified form of my invention; I

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of 4;

' tended position. 'Theburner body A and clamp outlet opening ('2 substantially smaller in cross Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified arrangement of the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a third modification;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of a fourth modifi- 5 cation; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a burner housing adapted for use with a burner tip member of the character shown in Fig. 9.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings I have illus- 10 trated one form of my invention which comprises a burner body or housing member A of tubular form provided with a small fuel supply passage A extending centrally from the lower end of the body to an enlarged chamber A therein which opens at the upper end of the body. The lower end of the body is externally threaded at A to provide a connection with a fuel supply line (not shown) from which a combustible gaseous mixture, such as pre-mixed air and natural gas, is delivered to the lower end of the fuel supply passage A. The upper portion of the body is made hexagonal externally to permit it to be removed from the fuel line by a suitable tool. A burner tip member B is positioned in, but does not fill the chamber A The tip member is formed with a central passage B which extends therethrough and communicates at its lower end with the fuel supply passage A. The effective cross-sectional area of the passage B is made slightly less than that of the passage A" sothatin operation the major portion of the combustible mixture supplied to the burner will normally pass upwardly through the passage B and be burned at the upper or discharge end of the tip member. The tip member is held in its desired operating position in the burner body by means of a clamping ring member C which is externally threaded at its lower end C for engagement with the upper internally threaded section A of the burner body. The clamp member C is formed with its central passage C diverging upwardly and into which the discharge end of the burner tip projects, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper portion'of the clamping member is formed with a protecting flange C in the upper surface of which diametrically opposite kerfs C are provided, permitting'the engagement therein of a suitable tool forinstalling or removing the clamping member from itsining ring C form detachably connected portions of a burner'housing comprising a chamber which is closed at its innerjend except for the inlet pa sage A and which at. its outer end has aburner sec ion an the chamber. The portion of the outer end wall of the chamber at the margin of the opening C overhangs the marginal portion of the burner tip member which is normally clamped between said end wall portion and the inner end wall of the chamber.

is blown oil? the burner tip, thereby disrupting the operation until the mixture is again ignited. In burners of the type illustrated, the main flame is positively maintained through the provision of a steady pilot flame which is arranged to burn at a point adjacent the discharge end of the burner tip. For this purpose, the annular space D formed between the burner tip member, clamping ring, and body is advantageously utilized for receiving an auxiliary supply of fuel from the fuel supply passage A through a lower series of ducts D and supplyingthe same to angularly spaced points adjacent the discharge end of the burner tip through an upper series of ducts D Heretofore the pilot flame fuel supply ducts described have been usually formed by one or more series of openings in the burner body which necessitated relatively expensive drilling operations. In the present construction the ducts D and D are advantageously formed by elongated recesses formed in the surface portions of the burner tip which are in contact with the burner body and clamping member C. The adjacent surfaces of the body and clamping member combine with the recesses to form the pilot ducts D and D, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. With this formation of the parts, the space D will receive a supply of fuel from the. passage A and deliver it through the upper series of ducts D to points slightly below the discharge end of the tip member. As shown in Fig. 2, the discharge portion of the burner tip is formed by a nozzle 13 which projects into the central opening C of the clamping member.

In operation, the main portion of the fuel supply for each burner is burned at the discharge end of the nozzle B in an elongated sharply pointed flame. The remaining portion of the fuel mixture passes through the ducts D into the space D from which it is discharged through the upper ducts D and is burned at the discharge end thereof. The pilot flame fuel supply discharges at a velocity substantially lower than the main fuel supply and this insures a steady pilot flame. The location of the pilot flame jets at points surrounding the upper end of the burner tip causes the latter to be heated to a substantially high temperature and prevents any cessation of the main flame which might otherwise occur due to the relatively high velocity at which the main supply of gas is ordinarily discharged. The supply of fuel for the pilot flame can be increased, if desired, without changing the construction of the tip member, by increasing the size of the passage A relative to the burner tip passage B.

In use, the nozzle portion of the burner tip and the clamping member C will be normally subjected to substantially high temperatures. Furthermore, the parts in the upper portion of the burner may be subjected to the corrosive action of materials used or formed in the operations in which the burner is employed For example, in can soldering operations, the burner is frequently subjected to molten soldering material and corrosive fluxing agents. To prevent these burner parts from rapidly deteriorating due to their exposure to high temperatures and corrosive materials, I have made them of materials which.

are highly resistant to one or both of such actions. In particular, the clamping member C is advantageously made of an acid and temperature resistant alloy and the burner tip member is formed of refractory. material.

The burner construction described can be easily assembled and disassembled. This characteristic is particularly advantageous in the periodic cleaning of the burner fuel passages. Any material which falls or is spilled on the burner is prevented from dropping into and clogging the pilot flame fuel passages by the special construction of the burner tip and clamping member. As shown in Fig. 2, the burner tip is formed with an annular recess B surrounding the base of the nozzle section B and with its outer edges located directly below the lower end of the clamp ring inner wall. The recess B is thus arranged to receive any dirt or other material falling into the upper end of the burner. With the burner tip member made of refractory material. foreign material adhering to the burner tip member may readily be removed when necessary by heating the member to melt or burn such foreign material.

In use, burners of the character described are frequently assembled in'a linear or concentric series. In such installations it is often desirable to have some or all of the burners discharging at various angles to the vertical. To permit such adjustment or arrangement of the direction of flame discharge the surfaces of the burner tip in contact with the burner body and clamp ring are convexly curved and the contacting surfaces of the burner body and clamp ring correspondingly concavely curved to provide suitable bearing surfaces for the tip member, as shown in Fig. 2. With this construction, the discharge end of each burner tip can be adjusted in any direction within a predetermined range without requiring the removal of the clamping member C, as. for example, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. To insure communication between the passages A' and B' for all positions of the burner tip the lower end of the passage B is made diverging as shown at B The intermediate section of the burner tip member is formed with an annular projecting portion B the outer surface 13 of which is convexly curved and in contact with the inner wall of the burner body. This construction provides additional bearing surface between the burner tip and body and aids in maintaining the former in any position to which it may be adjusted. The space D is thus divided into upper and lower annular sections and to provide communication there-between the curved surface of the portion l?! is formed at spaced points with vertical recesses B, forming an intermediate series of pilot flame fuel ducts, preferably out of alignment with the ducts D' and D.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated a slightly diflerent burner formation as well as the close spacing of a plurality of burners possible with a burner construction of the general character described. The burners are shown as arranged in one or more rows in a special housing or body E having a. series of burner chambers E, all of the burners receiving their Supply of' fuel from a common supply channel E through supply pasages E each communicating with the bottom of a corresponding burner tip passage B. In the form of construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the burner tips are not shaped to give them capacity for adjustment to vary the direction of flame discharge, such variation being prevent.- ed by the form given the burner tip member surface portions engaging the burner body. In Figs. 4 and 5 the tip member portion 3 replacing the portion B of Figs. 1-3 diflers from the latter in having its peripheral portion truly cylindrical and in contact throughout its length with the inner wall of the chamber. Ducts B" are formed in the portion 3 as in the portion B In Figs. 4 and 5 the pilot flame fuel supply ducts D and D are arranged to extend horizontally. as shown in Fig. 5, and corresponding contacting surfaces of the burner body and clamp ring C are horizontal. The construction and mode of operation of the burners are otherwise the same as in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The flanged portions of the clamp rings of the individual burners are substantially in contact, illustrating the permissible close spacing of the burners without interfering with the ease in which the burner parts may be assembled and disassembled.

In Fig. 6, a large size burner having a burner tip B of the general formation shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrated. In burners of this size, the housing body A is advantageously formed of pipe instead of solid stock. The housing is provided internally with a shoulder A upon which rests a supporting ring F for carying the burner tip member B. The pilot flame fuel ducts are formed as heretofore described and the adjacent portions of the ring and burner tip passages are made diverging in opposite directions to form an annular tapering approach channel F to the ducts D'. The clamp nut C may be formed of an acid-resistant alloy or of refractory material.

In the burner constructions described, separate burner tip members and burner chambers are provided for the individual burners. While such constructions permit close spacing of the burners, in some cases a still closer spacing of the burner flames is required and in Figs. 7 to 10 special constructions for this purpose are illustrated. In these figures the burner tip members for a number of burners are formed by an elongated bar H or HA of refractory material of a length commensurate with the number of flames desired and provided at longitudinally spaced points with discharge nozzles H through which vertical gas passages H extend. In Figs. 7 and 8, each burner tip bar has substantially the same transverse cross section as the burner tip member illustrated in Fig. 2and as shown is rotatably mounted in an elongated burner chamber J of substantially circular cross section formed in the housing J and open at its upper end. The bar H has its various surface portions which are intended to contact with the walls of the chamber provided with recesses to form lower, intermediate, and upper series of pilot gas ducts H H and H respectively. The portion of the upper surface of each bar surrounding the nozzles H is advantageously recessed to provide a dirt collecting space H below'the discharge end of the fuel ducts H The walls of the opening in the housing into which the nozzles H project, are inclined with their lower edges normally in alignment with the sides of the space H The main fuel passages H and pilot flame fuel ducts are connected to a fuel supply channel J formed in the bottom of the housing by branch passages J No clamping members are required as each bar H is inserted in its chamber J through an end opening in the housing which is normally closed by a plug J. The housing J, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, can be made with any number of side-by-side burner chambers, separated by longitudinally extending partitions J Each chamber may contain a single bar or a number of similar bars arranged end-to-end. In this construction, all of the burner nozzles on each bar will be relatively fixed and simultaneously adjustable to vary the angle of flame discharge.

In Fig. 9 a burner housing M is illustrated in which burner tip bars HA are made in the general form of the bars H of Figs. 7 and 8 but having a transverse cross-section similar to that of the individual burner tips illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. In this construction the fuel supply for the burners is -received from a fuel chamber M formed between a bumer bar supporting plate M and the bottom and side walls of the housing M. The partitions between adjacent burner chambers are eliminated in this construction and the pilot flame fuel passages for each pair of adjacent burner rows include a common elongated fuel receiving chamber DA, corresponding to the chamber D of Figs. 1-8, and a common intermediate eries of fuel ducts formed by registering recesses in the side pro- Jecting portions of each pair of burner tip bars.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated a burner housing 0 adapted to contain a single burner tip bar or a plurality of end-to-end bars HA of the type illustrated in Fig. 9. The housing main fuel supply channel 0', burner chamber 0 and burner tip bar are arranged as indicated.

The fuel burner constructions described are especially characterized by their low cost of manufacture. No machining operations are required and the use of refractory material for the burner tip permits that part to be pressed into the special shape described in a punch press. The ease of assembly and disassembly, protection of the pilot flame, special materials for the parts exposed to severe operating conditions, and ease of adjustment of the direction of flame discharge are all factors contributing to a prolonged and effective commercial life of the burner.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the forms of the device disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A fuel burner comprising a body having a chamber formed therein and a fuel supply pasclamping ring and body combining to form a space therebetween and upper and lower series of fuel ducts, said lower series of fuel ducts being arranged to connect said space to said fuel supply passage, and said upper series of fuel ducts being arranged to connect said space to the interior of said clamping ring at a point adjacent the discharge end of said central passage.

2. A fuel burner comprising a body having a chamber formed therein and a fuel supply passage in communication with said chamber, a burner tip member positioned in said chamber and having a central passage formed therethrough in communication with said fuel supply passage, a clamping ring detachably connected to said body and arranged to hold said tip member in position, said tip member, clamping ring and body combining to form a space therebetween, and pilot flame fuel ducts arranged to connect said space to said fuel supply passage and to the atmosphere at a point adjacent the discharge end of said central passage.

3. A fuel burner comprising a body having a chamber formed therein and a fuel supply passage in communication with said chamber, a burner tip member positioned in said chamber and having a central passage formed therethrough in communication with said fuel supply passage, a clamping ring detachably connected to the upper end of said body and arranged to hold said tip member in position, pilot flame fuel ducts arranged to connect said space to said fuel supply passage and to the atmosphere at a point adjacent the discharge end of said central passage, and said clamping ring and burner tip member being formed of acid-resistant material.

4. A fuel burner comprising a body having a chamber formed therein and a fuel supply passage in communication with said chamber, a

burner tip member positioned in said chamber and having a central passage formed therethrough in communication at its lower end with said fuel supply passage and discharging at its upper end, and the contacting surfaces of said body and tip member being formed to permit a, rotatable movement of said tip member in saidchamber to vary the direction of flame discharge.

5. A fuel burner comprising a body having a chamber formed therein and a fuel supply passage in communication with said chamber, a burner tip member positioned in said chamber and having a central passage formed therethrough in communication at its lower end with said fuel supply passage and discharging at its upper end, a clamping member detachably connected to said body and arranged to contact with the upper portion of said tip member, the contacting surfaces of said body, tip member and clamping member being formed to permit a rotatable movement of said tip member in said chamber to vary the direction of flame discharge.

6. A fuel burner comprising a body having a chamber formed therein and a fuel supply passage in communication with said chamber, a burner tip member positioned in said chamber and having a central passage formed therethrough in communication at its lower end with said fuel supply passage and discharging at its upper end, pilot flame fuel ducts connecting said fuel supply passage to the atmosphere at a point adjacent the discharge end of said central passage, and the contacting surfaces of said body and tip member being formed to permit a rotatable movement of said tip member in said chamber to vary the direction of flame discharge.

7. A fuel burner comprising a body having a chamber formed therein and a fuel supply passage in communication with said chamber, a burner tip member positioned in said chamber and having a central pasasge formed therethrough in communication at its lower end with said fuel supply passage and discharging at its upper end, a clamping ring detachably connected tosaid body and arranged to contact with the upper portion of said tip member, the peripheral surface of said burner tip member being recessed to form pilot flame fuel ducts connecting said fuel supply passage to the atmosphere at a point adjacent the discharge end of said central passage, and the contacting surfaces of said body, tip member and clamping member being formed to permit a rotatable movement of said tip member in said chamber to vary the direction of flame discharge.

8. A fuel burner comprising a body having a chamber formed therein and a fuel supply passage in communication with said chamber, a burner tip member positioned in said chamber and having a central passage formed therethrough in communication with said fuel supply passage, the upper surface of said burner tip member being recessed adjacent the discharge end of said central passage, and pilot flame fuel ducts opening to said fuel supply passage and to the atmosphere at a point above the bottom of said recessed portion, and a clamping ring detachably connected to said body and having its inner wall normally terminating in alignment with the outer edges of said recessed portion and above the discharge end of said pilot flame fuel ducts.

9. A fuel burner comprising a body having an elongated chamber formed therein and a fuel supply passage in communication with said chamber, and a bar-like burner tip member rotatably mounted in said chamber and having a plurality of vertical passages formed therein at longitudinally spaced points and in communication at their lower ends with said fuel supply passage and discharging to the atmosphere at their upper ends.

10. In a fuel burner, the combination with a burner housing formed with a chamber and with an outlet opening in the outer end wall of said chamber smaller in transverse cross section than said chamber and with an inlet for gas and air opening to the chamber at its inner end, of a burner tip member mounted in said chamber with its marginal portion at the inner side of the portion of said outer end wall at the margin of said opening, said member being shaped relatively to said chamber to provide a flow passage between the chamber wall and the surface of said member extending from the inlet end of said chamber to said outlet opening and including a discharge portion leading toward and distributed along the margin of said opening between said marginal portion of said body and the adjacent outer end wall portion of the chamber.

11. In a fuel burner, the combination with a burner housing formed with a chamber and with an outlet opening in the outer end wall of said chamber smaller in transverse cross section than said chamber and with an inlet for gas and air opening to the chamber at its inner end, of a burner tip member mounted in said chamber with .its marginal portion at the inner side-of the portion of said outer end wall at the margin of said opening, said member being shaped relatively to said chamber to provide a flow passage ing comprising detachably connected portions normally holding said member in said chamber but separable to permit the insertion and removal of said member.

12. In a fuel burner, the combination with a burner housing formed with a chamber and with an outlet opening in the outer end wall of said chamber smaller in transverse cross section than said chamber and with an inlet for gas and air opening to the chamber at its inner end, of a burner tip member mounted in said chamber with its marginal portion at the inner side of the portion of said outer end wall at the margin of said opening, and formed with a passage leading through said member from the inlet end of said chamber to said opening, said member being shaped relatively to said chamber to provide a flow passage between the chamber wall and the surface of said member extending from the inlet end of said chamber to said outlet opening and including a discharge portion leading toward and distributed along the margin of said opening between said marginal portion of said body and the adjacent outer end wall portion of the chamber.

13. In a fuel burner, the combination with a burner housing formed with a chamber and with an outlet opening in the outer end wall of said chamber smaller in transverse cross section than said chamber and with an inlet for gas and air opening to the chamber at its inner end, of a burner tip member mounted in said chamber with its marginal portion engaging the inner side of the portion of said outer end wall at the margin of said opening, said member comprising a projection of reduced cross section extending into said opening and being formed with a main burner passage extending through the member from the inlet end of said chamber to the outer end of said projection and said member being shaped relative to said chamber to provide a pilot flame flow passage between the chamber wall and the surface of said member extending from the inlet end of said chamber to said outlet opening.

14. In a fuel burner, the combination with a burner housing formed with a chamber with an outlet opening in the outer end wall of said chamber smaller in cross section than said chamber and with an inlet for gas and air opening to the chamber at its inner end, of a body of refractory material mounted in said chamber with a marginal portion at the inner side of the portion of said outer end wall at the margin of said opening. said body being formed with a main gas passage extending through said body from the inlet end of said chamber to said opening, and being formed with surface grooves and otherwise shaped relative to said chamber to provide a supplemental flow passage between the chamber wall and the surface of said body including said grooves and leading from the inlet end of said chamber to said outlet opening and compris ing a discharge portion leading toward said opening between said marginal portion of said body and the adjacent outer end wall portion of the chamber.

15. A fuel burner part adapted for mounting in a burner chamber to regulate the distribution of gas flow through the chamber consisting of a body of refractory material comprising a main portion generally cylindrical in outline and formed at one end with an axial extension of reduced cross section and with grooves leading inward toward said extension from the periphery of said main portion and formed at its opposite end with a central depression and with grooves leading outward from said depression to the periphery of said main portion and formed with an axial passage through said main portion and extension and with a circumferential rib surrounding said main portion with grooves in said rib extending from one side to the other of the latter.

16. A fuel burner part adapted for mounting in a burner chamber to regulate the distribution of gas flow through the chamber consisting of a body of refractory material comprising a main portion generally cylindrical in outline and formed at one end with an axial extension of reduced cross section and with grooves leading inward toward said extension from the periphery of said main portion and with an axial passage through said main portion and extension.

17. A fuel burner part adapted for mounting in a burner chamber to regulate the distribution of gas flow through the chamber consisting of a body of refractory material generally cylindrical in outline and formed at one end with an axial extension of reduced cross section and with grooves leading inward toward said extension from the periphery of said main portion and formed at its opposite end with a central depression and with grooves leading outward from said depression to the periphery of said main portion and formed with an axial passage through said main portion and extension.

18. A fuel burner part adapted for mounting in a burner chamber to regulate the-distribution of gas flow through the chamber consisting of a body of refractory material generally cylindrical in outline and formed at one end with an axial extension of reduced cross section and with an annular extension adjacent its periphery which surrounds and is spaced away from said axial extension, and formed with an axial passage through said main portion and axial extension and with grooves in the edge of .said annular extension leading from the periphery of the latter to the space between the last mentioned extension and said axial extension.

19. A fuel burner part adapted for mounting in a burner chamber to regulate the distribution of gas flow through the latter consisting of a body of refractory material of generally cylindrical outline and formed with a main axial gas passage and with supplemental gas passages comprising axially extending surface grooves at its periphery and radially extending end wall surface grooves.

20. A fuel burner part adapted for mounting in a burner chamber to regulate the distribution of gas flow through the latter consisting of a body of refractory material of generally cylindrical outline and formed with a main axial gas passage and with supplemental gas passages comprising end wall surface grooves leading radially inward from its periphery.

21. Afuel burner part adapted for mounting in a burner chamber to regulate the distribution of gas flow through the latter consisting of a body of refractory material of generally cylindrical outline and formed with a main axial gas passage and with supplemental gas passages comprising axially extending suriace grooves at its periphery.

22. In a gaseous fuel burner, the combination with a burner housing made of metal and formed with a chamber and with a substantially circular outlet opening in the outer end wall of said chamber smaller in transverse cross section than said chamber and with a fuel inlet to the chamber at its inner end, of a burner part adapted for mounting in said chamber consisting of a body 0! material more refractory and of lower heat conductivity than metal and generally cylindrical in outline and substantially coaxial with said outlet opening and formed with an axial passage and with a circumferential rib with grooves in said rib extending from one side to the other of the latter and more remote from the axis or said axial passage than the margin of said outlet opening.

FRED HESS. 

